Three Rivers Birding Club
Bi-monthly Membership Meeting
Monday, July 12, 2004
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Phipps Garden Center, Shady Avenue

A social gathering was held for thirty minutes before the meeting began; birders must have had an exciting spring to talk about because they were reluctant to stop discussing birds and start the meeting. Refreshments were available. Members had the opportunity to select free birding brochures and magazines to take home. Seventy-five enthusiastic birders attended.

President Jack Solomon called the meeting to order. He asked new members and visitors attending their first meeting to give their names and hometowns. Among the ten people recognized was Ross Gallardy of Canonsburg who participated in the World Series of Birding at Cape May, New Jersey this spring. Ross and his team won second place in the youth competition by finding and identifying 183 bird species in 24 hours.

Vice-president and Outings Chairman Jim Valimont conducted the remainder of the business meeting. Door prizes were donated by Schenley Park Visitors' Center and a 3RBC member. Don Gibbon selected an Aviary tote bag for his wife, Linda; Jim Cooper selected a book, Pete Dunne on Bird Watching: The How To, Where-To, and When-To of Birding.

Jim announced the next outing will be on Saturday, July 17 to Pymatuning/Conneaut with Chuck Tague. Look for details of outings in The Peregrine and check the 3RBC website for additional outings which may not have been scheduled before the newsletter's publication date. Few outings were scheduled for this summer because a lot of birders are busy with Breeding Bird Atlas surveys and Important Bird Area counts. A show of hands indicated that many members are involved in these projects, but more are encouraged to participate this year and in future years. Jim gave a few details about the clubıs trip to Delaware and New Jersey; Ruff and Arctic Tern were two highlights among the 158 species identified on the five day trip.

Members described recent bird sightings from the Pittsburgh area, Laurel Mountain, Colorado, and Texas. Neil Nodelman found a Dickcissel at Imperial. Mike Fialkovich noted the expansion of the range of Fish Crow to North Braddock. George Bercik mentioned an Olive-sided Flycatcher at Ohiopyle. Jim Valimont and Bob Machesney both found Orchard Orioles in the Pittsburgh area. Bob also described his birding vacation to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and recommended this as a great birding destination. Jack and Sue Solomon saw fledgling warblers in Lycoming County. Dave Wilton described his successful chase to the Rio Grande Valley in search of the Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush. Participants in Mike's outing to Laurel Mountain were impressed by the birds and the Timber Rattlesnake.

Bird Reports Chairman Mike Fialkovich discussed the Breeding Bird Atlas and offered materials to volunteers working on this project. Mike also mentioned the BBA T-shirt which is available to club members. If you are interested in purchasing a shirt, contact Mike at mpfial@earthlink.net.

Dave Wilton introduced Mike Fialkovich, the evening's guest speaker. Mike showed slides to demonstrate the diversity of habitats in Pennsylvania which support over 360 bird species. These habitats include Erie's lake and beaches, major river systems, wetlands in glaciated areas, forested mountains, grasslands on reclaimed strip mines, parks and hillsides, mature forests, and lakes which were often man-made. He illustrated each of these habitats with specific areas within Pennsylvania and showed slides of both rare and common birds in each location. The members enjoyed the spectacular scenery and the variety of bird slides. Mike awed the audience with his personal accounts of chasing rarities; Tufted Duck, Mew Gull, Great Gray Owl, Pink-footed Goose, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, and Painted Bunting, to name a few. 

Jim reminded members that the next meeting will be a membersı slide slam on September 13.

After the program birders eagerly socialized and devoured the remaining munchies.

Submitted by Pat and Sherron Lynch
Co-secretaries of Three Rivers Birding Club